Memoirs of a Geisha [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Scott Paulin
It's rare enough for a soundtrack album to be thoroughly satisfying on its own as a musical experience, but it's rarer still to hear one that actually makes you want to rush out and see the film. Tan Dun's recent score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon accomplished that feat, and so does John Williams's for Memoirs of a Geisha, a story based on Arthur Golden's best-selling novel, about the rise of a Japanese peasant girl to the heights of geisha society. It's no coincidence that the solo cello of Yo-Yo Ma, as expressive as the most soulful human voice, is front and center in both of these albums; Ma brings the melodies to life with such personality and passion that the...
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More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Scott Paulin
It's rare enough for a soundtrack album to be thoroughly satisfying on its own as a musical experience, but it's rarer still to hear one that actually makes you want to rush out and see the film. Tan Dun's recent score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon accomplished that feat, and so does John Williams's for Memoirs of a Geisha, a story based on Arthur Golden's best-selling novel, about the rise of a Japanese peasant girl to the heights of geisha society. It's no coincidence that the solo cello of Yo-Yo Ma, as expressive as the most soulful human voice, is front and center in both of these albums; Ma brings the melodies to life with such personality and passion that the narrative of the film seems to flash before your ears. Williams is an extraordinarily versatile film composer, though in recent years his Star Wars and Harry Potter scores have found him retracing familiar fantasy and science fiction terrain. In contrast, Memoirs is understated and evocative, combining Japanese and Western instruments to find uniquely appropriate sounds and colors. There are big, soaring tunes, to be sure, but they're subtly woven into the fabric of the whole in a masterful style. For fans of Ma -- and of violinist Itzhak Perlman, who provides a dramatic counterpart to Ma's cello on a few tracks -- this soundtrack is a surefire success, and Memoirs is Williams's most compelling work in years.
All Music Guide - James Christopher Monger
John Williams skillfully utilizes the formidable talents of renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and equally beloved violinist Itzhak Perlman to flesh out director Rob Marshall's celluloid rendering of the bestselling novel by Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha. Elegant and predictable, Williams sticks to the source, building grand Western themes off of traditional Japanese melodies with a heady mix of regional instrumentation shakuhachi and koto and cinematic know-how. This is the composer at his most refined and nuanced, providing a textbook example of professional composition that revels in its subject matter without ever intruding.
Gramophone - Adrian Edwards
A prestigious production to which Williams has brought his considerable artistry, along with that of his star soloists. The score is thoughtful and elegant, complementing the film's visual beauty.... The luxuriant recording enhances a fine piece of work.

A prestigious production to which Williams has brought his considerable artistry, along with that of his star soloists. The score is thoughtful and elegant, complementing the film's visual beauty.... The luxuriant recording enhances a fine piece of work.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 11/22/2005
  • Label: Sony
  • UPC: 828767470825
  • Catalog Number: 74708

Album Credits

Performance Credits
John Williams [composer] Primary Artist, Conductor
Yo-Yo Ma Primary Artist, Cello
Itzhak Perlman Primary Artist, Violin
Masakazu Yoshizawa Shakuhachi
Hiromi Hashibe Koto
John Williams & the Tick Tocks Conductor
Masayo Ishigure Koto
Masae Yoshizawa Shakuhachi
Pro Musica Nipponia Ensemble
Technical Credits
John Williams [composer] Composer, Producer, Audio Production
Rob Marshall Executive Producer
Shawn Murphy Engineering
Pat Sullivan Mastering
Paul Cremo Soundtrack Executive Producer
Susanne Cerha Art Direction
John Williams & the Tick Tocks Producer
Tammy Van Aken Packaging Manager
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 16 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(11)

4 Star

(4)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

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Sort by: Showing all of 16 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Stunning

    This is one of the most beautiful soundtracks I've ever heard. Its just perfect. It perfectly suites the movie. Very relaxing to listen to. Definitely recommended.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    John is simply a genious

    Though I have failed to watch the movie, I just had to buy the C.D. for it is composed by a pure genious.I fell in love with his work since the starwars trilogy ,and he has never failed to make beautiful,heartfelt scores.I simply love his work.Especially this C.D. for it has so much emotion and passion which makes you shed tears every time you hear it.I also enjoyed all the cello solos I heard thoughout some pieces.I extremly suggest this C.D. for everyone to buy.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Just Saw the Movie

    I can't wait to own this CD! You would never recognize it as John Williams' work, based on his Star Wars/Superman/Indiana Jones scores (which are good for their genre). The music is so evocotive and sensual, a perfect match for the film. No wonder it just won a Golden Globe! BTW, the movie is wonderful, if a bit sad.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    John Williams at his finest

    The musical score to "Memoirs of a Geisha" is the work of a genius. Composer John Williams really captured the entire atmosphere of World War II Japan, using traditional Japanese melodies combined with his own lush and sweeping orchestral compositions, which were all mixed together brilliantly to create this one inspiring soundtrack. Instrumentalists Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma also collaborated with John and helped him effectively perform most of the film's themes, especially Sayuri's Theme and The Chairman's Waltz. The score elegantly flows from one track to the next, telling the story of Sayuri's rise to fame as one of Japan's most prolific geishas using music. Like director Rob Marshall, John helps tell the story, just through instruments and musical notes. His music captures any and every emotional aspect of the film and creates an almost ultra-real atmosphere that encompasses this and almost all the rest of his work. John gave the music a personality and made it tie perfectly into the scene in which it was being played with. His music skillfully heightens the scenes and makes it better than if there wasn't any music there at all. This is one soundtrack that should not be looked over. John Williams' score to "Memoirs of a Geisha" is definitely one of his finest works in his long and prolific career, a career that for sure will never be equaled.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Memoirs of a Geisha

    Masterfully Brilliant. a mixture of every emmotion you could possibly think of. Like a soulful voice with a dramatic tale. Two thumbs way up!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Another John Williams Masterpiece

    The score for this film is absolutely beautiful. It's compelling, sad, dramatic and intriguing. The movie is wonderful, but wouldn't be nearly as good without this ingenious work. I can't emphasize the ingeniuity of this man enough. I highly, highly recommend this album. I'd give it ten stars if they'd let me.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    John Williams is the best film composer of our time!!

    The film doesn't intrigue me much, but the film score itself is absolutely breathtaking! Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman are two of the worlds best musicians and who better than John Williams who can create beautiful music for them. Sayuri's Theme appears in many different tracks on the CD and is extremely mysterious and exotic. The Chairmen's Waltz is second best theme, and the string zither sounds really amazing in the score also. Williams also has had a major year with his film scores for War of the Worlds, and Star Wars,Geisha, and Munich! If not an award for War of the Worlds (for its originality), then Geisha would be next in line definatley.

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    Posted July 23, 2009

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    Posted November 11, 2009

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    Posted March 23, 2010

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    Posted September 25, 2010

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    Posted November 8, 2009

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    Posted January 10, 2010

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    Posted September 3, 2009

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    Posted August 26, 2009

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